A police officer was in hospital today after a car thief drove into him on New Year's Eve.

The cop was pinned against his patrol car as the stolen vehicle he was about to inspect reversed into him.

Police today arrested a man on suspicion of the attempted murder of the police officer.

The incident occured in the early hours of this morning in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

Police had earlier been called to nearby Stony Stratford after reports that a taxi driver had been forced out of his vehicle, a black Volkswagen Passat, by a group of two men and two women, who then drove the vehicle away from the scene.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "Officers attended and spoke with the victim and then carried out a search for the stolen vehicle.

"At 3.11am officers discovered the stolen vehicle in Hodge Lea Lane in the Hodge Lea area of Milton Keynes.

"Officers got out of their vehicle to inspect the car, when it has reversed unexpectedly and pinned one of the officers to their patrol car, before leaving the scene.

"The vehicle was recovered shortly afterwards in Grangers Croft.

"The injured officer was taken to Milton Keynes General Hospital for treatment to his injuries where he remains at this time in a stable condition.

"A 29-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody at this time."

Detective Chief Inspector Justin Fletcher said: "We are keen to speak to anyone who was in the High Street area of Stony Stratford at the time the robbery occurred, who may have seen this group and is able to provide us with information regarding their identity."